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Population in Ireland compared to Moldova: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ireland was 5,484,367 in 2025 vs 2,360,527 people in Moldova in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ireland's population is 5,562,212 people compared to 2,328,600 in Moldova.

Population statistics:

  • Ireland's population is 2.39 times bigger than Moldova's.
  • Ireland is ranked the 122nd most populous country in the world, while Moldova is the 145th.
  • The countries together account for 0.09% of the world: 0.07% for Ireland vs 0.03% for Moldova.
  • For the last 10 years, Ireland has had an average growth rate of +1.5% per year vs -1.72% in Moldova.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ireland has increased from 4.27M people to 5.56M (30.2% growth), while Moldova has declined from 2.88M to 2.33M (19.2% decline).

Ireland vs Moldova: population by year and forecast

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Moldova
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ireland Moldova
2100 5,500,499 1,169,570
2099 5,525,011 1,180,272
2098 5,548,986 1,191,113
2097 5,572,279 1,201,972
2096 5,595,064 1,212,932
2095 5,615,877 1,223,967
2094 5,636,027 1,234,876
2093 5,655,870 1,245,808
2092 5,675,151 1,256,689
2091 5,694,092 1,267,532
2090 5,713,009 1,278,123
2089 5,730,546 1,288,741
2088 5,747,238 1,299,412
2087 5,762,650 1,309,994
2086 5,776,705 1,320,672
2085 5,791,049 1,331,516
2084 5,805,074 1,342,188
2083 5,818,867 1,353,031
2082 5,831,653 1,363,961
2081 5,842,944 1,375,027
2080 5,855,351 1,386,252
2079 5,870,572 1,397,755
2078 5,885,866 1,409,455
2077 5,901,647 1,421,568
2076 5,917,991 1,433,504
2075 5,934,408 1,445,874
2074 5,951,970 1,458,696
2073 5,969,385 1,471,729
2072 5,986,721 1,485,296
2071 6,003,888 1,499,224
2070 6,021,481 1,513,979
2069 6,038,378 1,528,841
2068 6,054,840 1,544,390
2067 6,070,805 1,560,256
2066 6,086,691 1,576,276
2065 6,101,966 1,592,761
2064 6,116,867 1,609,631
2063 6,129,790 1,626,510
2062 6,141,729 1,643,849
2061 6,154,062 1,661,290
2060 6,167,032 1,679,059
2059 6,179,602 1,696,440
2058 6,189,124 1,713,694
2057 6,196,781 1,730,910
2056 6,199,786 1,748,393
2055 6,204,376 1,765,554
2054 6,205,225 1,782,642
2053 6,205,444 1,799,510
2052 6,203,350 1,816,030
2051 6,200,637 1,832,448
2050 6,195,469 1,848,307
2049 6,187,289 1,864,603
2048 6,175,872 1,880,438
2047 6,163,776 1,896,381
2046 6,150,911 1,912,640
2045 6,134,927 1,929,525
2044 6,116,643 1,946,354
2043 6,097,627 1,964,017
2042 6,076,713 1,982,068
2041 6,052,462 2,000,545
2040 6,027,054 2,019,832
2039 6,002,204 2,040,153
2038 5,974,917 2,060,750
2037 5,946,606 2,081,833
2036 5,918,275 2,103,318
2035 5,889,854 2,125,527
2034 5,858,952 2,147,859
2033 5,826,337 2,170,311
2032 5,791,225 2,192,598
2031 5,754,845 2,215,052
2030 5,717,377 2,237,961
2029 5,676,731 2,260,762
2028 5,632,552 2,283,416
2027 5,585,925 2,305,981
2026 5,537,167 2,328,600
2025 5,484,367 2,360,527
2024 5,395,790 2,402,306
2023 5,311,538 2,457,783
2022 5,212,836 2,528,654
2021 5,110,585 2,595,809
2020 5,039,747 2,635,130
2019 4,976,456 2,664,224
2018 4,898,022 2,707,203
2017 4,827,445 2,755,189
2016 4,762,722 2,803,186
2015 4,701,957 2,835,978
2014 4,657,740 2,857,815
2013 4,623,816 2,859,558
2012 4,599,533 2,860,324
2011 4,580,084 2,860,699
2010 4,560,155 2,862,354
2009 4,535,375 2,865,213
2008 4,489,544 2,868,833
2007 4,398,942 2,874,299
2006 4,273,591 2,880,967
2005 4,159,914 2,888,985
2004 4,070,262 2,896,023
2003 3,996,521 2,903,198
2002 3,931,947 2,911,385
2001 3,866,243 2,918,135
2000 3,805,174 2,924,668
1999 3,754,786 2,930,622
1998 3,712,696 2,935,227
1997 3,674,171 2,936,413
1996 3,637,510 2,947,293
1995 3,608,841 2,953,200
1994 3,590,386 2,966,745
1993 3,576,261 2,975,966
1992 3,558,430 2,980,965
1991 3,534,235 2,981,566
1990 3,513,974 2,977,912
1989 3,511,009 2,970,039
1988 3,524,949 2,948,891
1987 3,540,057 2,916,306
1986 3,539,690 2,883,057
1985 3,538,082 2,850,787
1984 3,532,423 2,820,518
1983 3,510,600 2,791,207
1982 3,485,800 2,763,101
1981 3,453,000 2,735,987
1980 3,412,800 2,708,675
1979 3,373,750 2,683,035
1978 3,329,100 2,656,211
1977 3,282,200 2,626,298
1976 3,238,050 2,596,491
1975 3,189,550 2,566,998
1974 3,137,500 2,538,164
1973 3,085,950 2,510,584
1972 3,036,850 2,484,742
1971 2,992,050 2,460,611
1970 2,957,250 2,437,590
1969 2,932,650 2,408,469
1968 2,915,550 2,373,073
1967 2,902,450 2,337,695
1966 2,888,800 2,301,871
1965 2,877,300 2,265,287
1964 2,866,550 2,228,000
1963 2,852,650 2,188,895
1962 2,836,050 2,147,227
1961 2,824,400 2,103,327
1960 2,828,600 2,058,020

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/moldova | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ireland increased by 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth), while Moldova lost 77,781 people (a 2.7% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ireland gained 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth), while Moldova's population decreased by 474,586 people (a 16.9% decline).

Ireland was ranked 121st most populous country in 2006 and is 122nd in 2026. Moldova was ranked 134th in 2006 and ranked 145th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Ireland's population will grow by 11.4% to 6,195,469 people with a rank change from 122nd to 118th. The population of Moldova will decrease by 20.6% to 1,848,307 people and rank change from 145th to 150th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.21M people, while Moldova's population already peaked in 1991 at 2.98M people and is projected to decrease to 1.17M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Ireland
Factual

Projection
Moldova
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ireland Moldova
2100 -0.44% -0.91%
2099 -0.43% -0.91%
2098 -0.42% -0.9%
2097 -0.41% -0.9%
2096 -0.37% -0.9%
2095 -0.36% -0.88%
2094 -0.35% -0.88%
2093 -0.34% -0.87%
2092 -0.33% -0.86%
2091 -0.33% -0.83%
2090 -0.31% -0.82%
2089 -0.29% -0.82%
2088 -0.27% -0.81%
2087 -0.24% -0.81%
2086 -0.25% -0.81%
2085 -0.24% -0.8%
2084 -0.24% -0.8%
2083 -0.22% -0.8%
2082 -0.19% -0.8%
2081 -0.21% -0.81%
2080 -0.26% -0.82%
2079 -0.26% -0.83%
2078 -0.27% -0.85%
2077 -0.28% -0.83%
2076 -0.28% -0.86%
2075 -0.3% -0.88%
2074 -0.29% -0.89%
2073 -0.29% -0.91%
2072 -0.29% -0.93%
2071 -0.29% -0.97%
2070 -0.28% -0.97%
2069 -0.27% -1.01%
2068 -0.26% -1.02%
2067 -0.26% -1.02%
2066 -0.25% -1.03%
2065 -0.24% -1.05%
2064 -0.21% -1.04%
2063 -0.19% -1.05%
2062 -0.2% -1.05%
2061 -0.21% -1.06%
2060 -0.2% -1.02%
2059 -0.15% -1.01%
2058 -0.12% -0.99%
2057 -0.05% -1%
2056 -0.07% -0.97%
2055 -0.01% -0.96%
2054 -0.004% -0.94%
2053 0.03% -0.91%
2052 0.04% -0.9%
2051 0.08% -0.86%
2050 0.13% -0.87%
2049 0.18% -0.84%
2048 0.2% -0.84%
2047 0.21% -0.85%
2046 0.26% -0.88%
2045 0.3% -0.86%
2044 0.31% -0.9%
2043 0.34% -0.91%
2042 0.4% -0.92%
2041 0.42% -0.95%
2040 0.41% -1%
2039 0.46% -1%
2038 0.48% -1.01%
2037 0.48% -1.02%
2036 0.48% -1.04%
2035 0.53% -1.04%
2034 0.56% -1.03%
2033 0.61% -1.02%
2032 0.63% -1.01%
2031 0.66% -1.02%
2030 0.72% -1.01%
2029 0.78% -0.99%
2028 0.83% -0.98%
2027 0.88% -0.97%
2026 0.96% -1.35%
2025 1.64% -1.74%
2024 1.59% -2.26%
2023 1.89% -2.8%
2022 2% -2.59%
2021 1.41% -1.49%
2020 1.27% -1.09%
2019 1.6% -1.59%
2018 1.46% -1.74%
2017 1.36% -1.71%
2016 1.29% -1.16%
2015 0.95% -0.76%
2014 0.73% -0.06%
2013 0.53% -0.03%
2012 0.42% -0.01%
2011 0.44% -0.06%
2010 0.55% -0.1%
2009 1.02% -0.13%
2008 2.06% -0.19%
2007 2.93% -0.23%
2006 2.73% -0.28%
2005 2.2% -0.24%
2004 1.85% -0.25%
2003 1.64% -0.28%
2002 1.7% -0.23%
2001 1.6% -0.22%
2000 1.34% -0.2%
1999 1.13% -0.16%
1998 1.05% -0.04%
1997 1.01% -0.37%
1996 0.79% -0.2%
1995 0.51% -0.46%
1994 0.39% -0.31%
1993 0.5% -0.17%
1992 0.68% -0.02%
1991 0.58% 0.12%
1990 0.08% 0.27%
1989 -0.4% 0.72%
1988 -0.43% 1.12%
1987 0.01% 1.15%
1986 0.05% 1.13%
1985 0.16% 1.07%
1984 0.62% 1.05%
1983 0.71% 1.02%
1982 0.95% 0.99%
1981 1.18% 1.01%
1980 1.16% 0.96%
1979 1.34% 1.01%
1978 1.43% 1.14%
1977 1.36% 1.15%
1976 1.52% 1.15%
1975 1.66% 1.14%
1974 1.67% 1.1%
1973 1.62% 1.04%
1972 1.5% 0.98%
1971 1.18% 0.94%
1970 0.84% 1.21%
1969 0.59% 1.49%
1968 0.45% 1.51%
1967 0.47% 1.56%
1966 0.4% 1.61%
1965 0.38% 1.67%
1964 0.49% 1.79%
1963 0.59% 1.94%
1962 0.41% 2.09%
1961 -0.15% 2.2%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/moldova | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ireland grew by 1.64%, while Moldova's population declined by 1.74%.

Live population counters

Ireland Moldova
Current population
5562212
2328600
Population rank 122/197 145/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.03%
One net population change
5.95 minutes
12.6 minutes
One birth every
9.74 minutes
20.7 minutes
One death every
15 minutes
15.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +243 -114
Annual growth/decline +88,577 -41,779
Annual growth/decline rate +1.64% -1.74%
Population growth rate rank 64/197 196/197
One migration net change every
14.9 minutes
17.7 minutes
Annual migration change +35,417 -29,766
Net migration rank 27/196 164/196
Foreign-born residents 1,216,237 188,207
Foreign-born residents rank 52/195 116/195
Foreign-born share of population 23.1% 6.2%
Foreign-born share rank 25/195 85/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ireland
Natural

Migration
Moldova
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ireland Moldova
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 35,417 - -29,766
2024 18,885 39,059 -7,767 -27,088
2023 19,652 43,873 -7,007 -18,570
2022 19,287 93,535 -6,385 89,154
2021 26,064 27,419 -13,444 -33,405
2020 23,687 15,746 -7,067 -33,405
2019 28,365 29,663 -3,416 -41,233
2018 29,878 33,387 -961 -36,085
2017 31,379 28,883 1,402 -43,871
2016 33,339 18,967 4,580 -51,642
2015 35,265 13,376 6,049 -59,399
2014 37,728 448 7,248 -67,175
2013 39,302 -12,309 3,537 -77,571
2012 42,775 -22,411 5,581 -81,215
2011 45,801 -26,529 5,948 -82,271
2010 47,426 -26,974 7,456 -84,039
2009 47,168 -18,524 7,492 -83,546
2008 46,691 18,979 5,210 -79,593
2007 43,109 76,465 3,490 -75,734
2006 36,752 94,513 2,406 -72,061
2005 33,279 63,983 2,005 -68,681
2004 33,376 49,102 1,714 -52,491
2003 32,372 32,220 -322 -46,947
2002 31,062 34,286 -1,249 -45,833
2001 27,837 39,220 -718 -45,043
2000 23,592 31,298 -324 -43,854
1999 21,402 23,592 642 -43,111
1998 22,277 16,615 2,140 -41,975
1997 21,311 17,425 4,669 -41,743
1996 18,915 9,959 2,655 -33,369
1995 16,601 10,019 5,534 -31,975
1994 17,234 -3,118 9,921 -31,616
1993 17,166 -3,762 13,886 -31,526
1992 20,283 1,335 17,373 -30,136
1991 21,206 4,944 21,127 -29,204
1990 21,787 -8,203 25,824 -30,053
1989 20,012 -28,752 29,638 -29,307
1988 22,912 -44,020 35,608 -4,989
1987 26,904 -38,426 40,122 -10,796
1986 27,963 -21,139 39,463 -8,769
1985 29,013 -16,178 38,060 -10,627
1984 31,791 -15,549 38,108 -12,732
1983 34,053 -15,043 36,076 -10,543
1982 38,344 -14,464 32,814 -8,412
1981 39,364 -10,834 31,360 -6,452
1980 40,612 -2,876 30,053 -3,693
1979 38,798 1,486 28,322 -6,912
1978 36,288 15,543 27,622 3,483
1977 35,448 14,505 27,707 3,245
1976 33,676 14,200 27,801 2,885
1975 34,128 13,828 27,677 2,355
1974 34,199 13,482 27,219 1,785
1973 34,562 13,164 25,967 1,156
1972 34,316 12,858 24,626 481
1971 35,606 5,851 23,359 -61
1970 30,756 -8,892 22,314 606
1969 29,326 -10,250 21,768 20,561
1968 27,697 -11,132 22,005 19,830
1967 29,895 -11,708 22,654 19,175
1966 26,866 -11,858 23,720 18,601
1965 30,500 -14,016 24,916 18,066
1964 31,532 -15,640 25,860 17,509
1963 29,667 -16,615 29,382 16,816
1962 28,077 -17,438 32,082 15,884
1961 25,137 -22,237 35,180 14,818
1960 28,286 -38,492 36,352 13,697

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/moldova | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 43.6% of the population change in Ireland is from natural causes (a gain of 265,801 people) and 56.4% is from migration (a gain of 343,908 people). In Moldova 11.7% is from natural causes (a loss of 34,016 people) and 88.3% is from migration (a loss of 255,544 people).

As of 2024, 1,216,237 residents or 23.1% of the population were not native-born in Ireland, compared to 188,207 people or 6.2% in Moldova.

Biggest cities by population

Ireland
City Population
Dublin 593K
Cork 222K
Galway 83.5K
Limerick 62.7K
Waterford 48.4K
Drogheda 41K
Swords 40.8K
Dundalk 39K
Tralee 26.1K
Kilkenny 22.2K
Moldova
City Population
Chisinau 567K
Tiraspol 134K
Balti 91K
Bender 76.2K
Ungheni 26.5K
Dubasari 25.1K
Cahul 22.2K
Orhei 22.2K
Soroca 21.1K
Comrat 19.1K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ireland/moldova | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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